lectin
[lek-tin]
- any of a group of proteins that bind to particular carbohydrates in the manner of an antibody and are commonly extracted from plants for use as an agglutinin, as in clumping red blood cells for blood typing.
Show More
Origin of lectin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for lectin
Contemporary Examples
WGA is classified as a lectin—a term for a protein produced by an organism to protect itself from predation.
Historical Examples
I left it up to de white folks to 'tend to de 'lectin' of officers.
Thar hain't been such a run in Kanoy County sence they stopped 'lectin' country fellers fer sheriff.
lectin
- a type of protein possessing high affinity for a specific sugar; lectins are often highly toxic
Show More
Word Origin
C20: from Latin lectus, past participle of legere to select + -in
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
lectin
(lĕk′tĭn)- Any of several plant glycoproteins that bind to specific carbohydrate groups on the cell membranes, used in the laboratory to stimulate proliferation of lymphocytes and to agglutinate red blood cells.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.